Architecture for processing search queries, retrieving documents identified thereby, and method for using same
First Claim
1. A method for processing a search query provided by a user, and identifying and retrieving documents from a database corresponding to said search query, comprising the steps of:
- (A) receiving, onto a session server, said search query from said user, said session server having at least a first processor coupled to said user over a communications channel;
(B) sending said search query to a query server coupled to said session server, said query server having at least a second processor coupled to a first database, said first database including records representative of said documents, said second processor being different than said first processor;
(C) searching, with said query server, said first database to identify documents responsive to said search query;
(D) sending search results information representative of said documents identified in step (C) from said query server to said session server;
(E) sending a search results list representative of said search results information from said session server across said communications channel to said user;
(F) receiving, onto said session server, a document retrieval request transmitted from said user over said communications channel, said document retrieval request corresponding to at least one document represented on said search results list;
(G) retrieving, with said session server, said at least one document and transmitting a file representative of said at least one document to said user over said communications channel;
(H) incrementing, with said session server, at least one accounting record on an accounting database coupled to said session server, said at least one accounting record representing a number of retrievals of said at least one document by said session server; and
wherein steps (F),(G), and (H) are performed only on said first processor, step (C) is performed only on said second processor, said first processor being separate from said second processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A split-server architecture for processing a search query provided by a user, and identifying and retrieving documents from a database corresponding to the search query. A session server is provided for receiving the search query from the user. The session server has at least a first processor coupled to the user over a communications channel. A query server is coupled to the session server. The query server has at least a second processor coupled to a first database having records representative of the documents to be searched. The query server includes the ability to receive the search query from the session server, the ability to search the first database to identify documents responsive to the search query; and the ability to send search results information representative of the documents identified by the first database search from the query server to the session server. The session server includes the ability to send the search query to the query server, the ability to receive the search results information from the query server, the ability to send a search results list representative of the search results information across the communications channel to the user, the ability to receive a document retrieval request transmitted from the user over the communications channel, the ability to retrieve a document in response to the retrieval request and transmitting a file representative of the document to the user over the communications channel, and the ability to increment an accounting record on an accounting database coupled to the session server, the accounting record representing a number of retrievals of the document by the session server.
476 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for processing a search query provided by a user, and identifying and retrieving documents from a database corresponding to said search query, comprising the steps of:
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(A) receiving, onto a session server, said search query from said user, said session server having at least a first processor coupled to said user over a communications channel; (B) sending said search query to a query server coupled to said session server, said query server having at least a second processor coupled to a first database, said first database including records representative of said documents, said second processor being different than said first processor; (C) searching, with said query server, said first database to identify documents responsive to said search query; (D) sending search results information representative of said documents identified in step (C) from said query server to said session server; (E) sending a search results list representative of said search results information from said session server across said communications channel to said user; (F) receiving, onto said session server, a document retrieval request transmitted from said user over said communications channel, said document retrieval request corresponding to at least one document represented on said search results list; (G) retrieving, with said session server, said at least one document and transmitting a file representative of said at least one document to said user over said communications channel; (H) incrementing, with said session server, at least one accounting record on an accounting database coupled to said session server, said at least one accounting record representing a number of retrievals of said at least one document by said session server; and wherein steps (F),(G), and (H) are performed only on said first processor, step (C) is performed only on said second processor, said first processor being separate from said second processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for processing a search query provided by a user, and identifying and retrieving documents from a database corresponding to said search query, comprising:
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(A) a session server for receiving said search query from said user, said session server having at least a first processor coupled to said user over a communications channel; (B) a query server being coupled to said session server, said query server having at least a second processor coupled to a first database, said second processor being different and separate than said first processor, said first database including records representative of said documents; (C) said query server including; (i) means for receiving said search query from said session server; (ii) searching means for searching said first database to identify documents responsive to said search query, said searching means being implemented only on said second processor; (iii) means for sending search results information representative of said documents identified by said searching means from said query server to said session server; and (D) said session server including; (i) means for sending said search query to said query server; (ii) means for receiving said search results information from said query server; (iii) means for sending a search results list representative of said search results information across said communications channel to said user; (iv) means for receiving a document retrieval request transmitted from said user over said communications channel, said document retrieval request corresponding to at least one document represented on said search results list; (v) means for retrieving said at least one document and transmitting a file representative of said at least one document to said user over said communications channel; (vi) means for incrementing at least one accounting record on an accounting database coupled to said session server, said at least one accounting record representing a number of retrievals of said at least one document by said session server; and wherein the functions of items (iv), (v), and (vi) are performed only on said first processor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for processing a search query provided by a user, and identifying and retrieving documents from a database corresponding to said search query, comprising the steps of:
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(A) receiving, onto a session server, said search query from said user, said session server having at least a first processor coupled to said user over a communications channel; (B) sending said search query to a query server coupled to said session server, said query server having at least a second processor coupled to a first database, said first database including records representative of said documents, said second processor being different than said first processor; (C) searching, with said query server, said first database to identify documents responsive to said search query; (D) sending search results information representative of said documents identified in step (C) from said query server to said session server; (E) sending a search results list representative of said search results information from said session server across said communications channel to said user; (F) receiving, onto said session server, a document retrieval request transmitted from said user over said communications channel, said document retrieval request corresponding to at least one document represented on said search results list; (G) retrieving, with said session server, said at least one document and transmitting a file representative of said at least one document to said user over said communications channel; (H) incrementing, with said session server, at least one accounting record on an accounting database coupled to said session server, said at least one accounting record representing a number of retrievals of said at least one document by said session server; and wherein steps (F),(G), and (H) are performed only on said first processor, step (C) is performed only on said second processor, said first processor being separate from said query server and said second processor being separate from said session server.
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Specification